Large Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest campground at the confluence of Cle Elum and Cooper Rivers with 69 sites and pull-throughs up to 127 feet.
Salmon La Sac is one of the most popular and accessible National Forest campgrounds in the Cle Elum River corridor, offering 69 sites at the point where the Cle Elum and Cooper Rivers meet. Pull-through sites accommodate rigs up to 127 feet, making it unusually large-RV friendly. The campground serves as a gateway to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Waptus Lake trail. Vault toilets and potable water are on site. Reservations open 6 months in advance and fill quickly on summer weekends.
Salmon La Sac sits at the upper end of the Cle Elum River valley in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, at the threshold of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness where the forest gives way to rock and ice above 5,000 feet. The Cooper River and Cle Elum River confluence near camp is a historic salmon spawning reach where coho and Chinook once ran in abundance — and hatchery supplementation programs are actively working to restore wild fish runs to this upper watershed. The Waptus Lake trail from Salmon La Sac leads into the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, a 393,000-acre protected landscape that contains more glacially-carved lakes than any comparable area in the Cascades, including the legendary Enchantments above Leavenworth.
Sourced from first-hand visits, park ranger notes, and RV community reports. Updated when conditions change.
End-of-road campground at the Cle Elum River headwaters. Sites near the river (1–25) are the most popular. Loop B has pull-through sites. Excellent base for Ingalls Lake, Enchantments day hikes, and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from the eastern approach. Typically less crowded than the I-90 corridor campgrounds on non-holiday weekends. Good trout fishing in the Cle Elum River directly from camp.
| 📍 Nearest Town | Cle Elum, WA |
| ⛽ Gas Station | 21 mi |
| 🛒 Grocery Store | 21 mi |
| 🏪 Costco | 80 mi |
| ☕ Starbucks | 21 mi |
| 🏕️ Nearest State Park | 18 mi |
Stock up in Cle Elum, WA before heading out — services get limited near the campground.
Ready to book?
Check availability online. Reserving 6 months in advance.